The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-11-04

have Just brought up from the bowels
of the ship. Half dozen Others seize
them. and. uncoiling them. fit them
into the huge snatch-blocks which they
have hooked into heavy rings in the
deck.
The ends are carried up over the
lower rigging. passed through more
blocks, or pulleys, over more rigging,
down on deck again, and made fast to
the heel of the great topmast. Now
many others seize the rope, the boat
swain's whistle sounds long-drawn.
shrill cry. the blocks creak. the big
stick moves up. an iron key Is passed
to keep it in its place. and the main
topmast is up.
This work is going on in different
forms all over the ship at the same
time. until at noon, when the pipes
| sound "belay ALL" and everybody goes
to dinner. fully one-half of the work is
done. and done well.
During the morning l had been
watching Charley Beeston. whenever ]
got chance and l observed that he
| was stationed in the maintop. He
seemed very anxious to do his duty,
and worked hard. but his classmates
ridiculed him numerically. because he
would keep hold of something with one
hand all the time he was alOft, leaving
only one hand to work with.
Soon after noticed this, one of the
lieutenants saw it, too. and without
the slightest regard for the boys new
ness in sailor ways. sung out. grutfly:
..Mainyard there"'
Sir" returned the first classman in
the top.
Tell that youngster to let 20 of the
shroud and go to work with both
hands; We don't want any oilers
here"
When this thoughtless order was re-
peated to Charley. fully expected a
remoastrance, but not word did he
say but the already familiar LAY. ny.
SIR" and simply obeyed.
He lost his balance several times be-
fore we were piped to dinner, but al
though each time he flushed painfully.
he gave no other sign, but went bravely
on with his work of passing up the
heavy rigging for the topmast, and
said to an old sailor who stood near
me coiling down a rope: That boy
has pluck, by George! and that's more
than can say for half of those young
dogs who are guying him."
HE has that SIR" said the man;
"you oughter hev seen him last night
when they cut down his hammock and
he'd like to hev broke his head on the
deck. He jus. got up and said moth
ing. but / saw that in his eye that
made them scamps sneak off without
| even the laugh they were after"
| By eight bells that afternoon. or as
they say on shore. four o'clock. al
though a storm was brewing and il
blew hard, we had every thing up ex-
pit the main top-gallant mast which.
as you must know. is the uppermost OF
the three separate sticks Of which tho
mast is composed.
They We're making a new one for us
in the carpenters shop on shore. 1t
came off Just rs one bell struck (half-
past FOUR. and the main top men were
seat aloft to receive it, Charley among
them.
The rest of the men were on deck.
which was consequently rather crowd
ed. ceiling down ropes, unlocking the
great block which we were through
with. and sending them below. and
making things generally ship-shape
Within few minutes the Elast-ropt
which was to be used in hosting thu
|, heavy timber was rove off. as thu
sailors say. through the block up aiofl
and through big block on deck. witt
the hauling part laid along the deck al
ready.
The wind had risen by this time 81
that halls from aloft were hardly audi
Bile on deck. and the men had just be
; gun to haul away on the rope. whel
Charley came down on deck to 81.
that some of the loose tOpmast riggin:
, ; was afoul of the mast-rOpe. and to be
lay the rope till they could clear it.
H. stood by the rail as he delivere'
!. his message. and the sailors immediate
,. " took couple of turns with the rop
around = Delaying pin near the bloc
through which it passed. The mas
already swayed some fifty or sixty fee
. high in the air. directly over knot O
> men engaged at the foot of the main
:. mast.
: Whether the rope slipped or the be
- LAYING pin. which though large wa
of wood. broke. never could tell, bu
as turned my head to look aloft {
;. the mast, l heard loud eNclamatio
!. behind me. accompanied. rather tina
followed. by the noise of rope rur
ming through block: and at the sam
instant the heavy mass swayed slight.
y then plunged downward.
- The doom of the poor fellows b'
meath it seemed sealed.
:. was fairly paralyzed. but in til
:, same moment boyish voice. firm an
strong, rang out behind me: ''Stan
" from under!" and then there was
:, dull, crushing sound. II all passed
:, single instant, so qui ky that l d.
- not have time to think. much less
" turn. but i saw the mast stop. not MOI
than ten feet above the heads Of IL
- men below it. as they sprang lightly
one side-sayed!
And Charley? He lay little hes
" on the deck, by the block. still NJ
3 pale. his eyes closed, and blood spa
tered on his face.